Accounting Degree in Wilmington, NC — Salary & ROI 2026
Accounting degree analysis for Wilmington, NC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$59K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$86K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.7 yrs
in Wilmington
Cost of Living
95
index (100 = avg)
Accounting in Wilmington, NC Overview
While Wilmington has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Accounting students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $9,779/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Accounting enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Financial Reporting and Tax Preparation. The adjusted starting salary in Wilmington is approximately $58,900.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$7,287/yr
Private Tuition
$34,393/yr
Room & Board
$9,779/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,831/yr
Unemployment
6.8%
Graduation Rate
48%
Accounting Salary in Wilmington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Wilmington's cost of living index of 95 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Accounting salary: $62,000 starting, $90,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Wilmington adjustment factor: 0.95x based on the local cost of living index.
Accounting ROI Calculator for Wilmington
Estimate your return on investment for a Accounting degree using local Wilmington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,287 | Private avg: $34,393
Wilmington avg aid: $13,831/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$68,264
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$25,650
vs HS diploma in Wilmington
ROI Payback Period
2.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Wilmington
$644,236
Lifetime earnings premium ($712,500) minus total education cost ($68,264)
Student Loan Payoff for Accounting in Wilmington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Wilmington for Accounting
University of North Carolina Wilmington
public
$7,287/yr
$29,148 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Cape Fear Community College
$2,864/yr
Top Employers for Accounting in Wilmington
Wilmington offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Accounting graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Wilmington Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Accounting Job Titles
Accounting in Nearby North Carolina Cities
Charlotte, NC
$55K starting · COL 89
39 colleges
Raleigh, NC
$51K starting · COL 83
21 colleges
Greensboro, NC
$56K starting · COL 91
17 colleges
Durham, NC
$68K starting · COL 109
25 colleges
Winston-Salem, NC
$66K starting · COL 106
26 colleges
Fayetteville, NC
$56K starting · COL 90
15 colleges
Cary, NC
$67K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
High Point, NC
$52K starting · COL 84.5
5 colleges
Other Business Majors in Wilmington
Business Analytics
$74K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$67K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$62K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$48K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$48K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$48K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$48K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$55K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Accounting Degree in Wilmington — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Accounting ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Wilmington.